Ringstead Major 

(photo courtesy of N Clayton/ K Evans)

Major ( )- definition of

A stunning stallion that is a 3/4 brother to my own medal winning and multiple supreme champion mare Ringstead Charming Lass. Like Charm he is by the fantastic stock-getter Forlan Brigadier and out of a mare by Revel Saled. He has excellent conformation with a fantastic front end, deep body, lovely tail set and powerful back end. Like the best welsh ponies he has an exquisitely dished head with a beautiful, bold and kind eye. He is a naturally straight and free mover who uses his hocks and extends straight from the shoulder. All of this is topped off by a deep chestnut colouring, long flaxen mane and tail and flashy markings (four socks and a blaze). Most importantly this little man has a reputation for being an absolute gentlemen with his humans and ladies and babies - and fully lives up to this reputation. Retained by Ringstead Stud as a youngster he was sold at Fayre Oaks before finally settling at Pinina and Pinfold Studs where he stayed for nearly a decade. I understand that he was successfully shown himself in his younger days and that he has also sired several fantastic ponies that have themselves gone on to win in hand, under saddle and in harness.

I understand from his previous owners that Major was successfully shown in his younger days where he was a frequent winner, champion and supreme champion - rarely out of the top two places in strong classes. Hardly surprising with his pedigree - his sire Forlan Brigadier, successfully shown from Forlan as a youngster he was never out of the top three when shown at the Royal Welsh Show for three consecutive years. Brigadier was then sold to Ringstead Stud where he remained as stud stallion for nearly two decades siring dynasties of supreme champions and medal winners including:
w Ringstead Charming Lass (3/4 sister to Major)
w Ringstead Candi (3/4 brother to Major)
w Ringstead Cassie (3/4 sister)
w Ringstead Charlotte (3/4 sister)
w Ringstead Yo Yo (1/2 sister)
w Ringstead Yvonne (1/2 sister)
w Tame Valley Belladonna (1/2 sister)
Many of these close relatives, all supreme champions and medal winners themselves, have also gone on to be successful under saddle as LR/FR ponies and/or to produce very successful children's ponies themselves. Coming from such a successful dynasty it is no surprise that Major himself has sired many ponies that have gone on to be winners and champions in hand, under saddle, in harness and in producing winners themselves. His stock have also been exported to the continent. His daughter Pinfold Spring Melody winner was a frequent winner with wins including Lincoln County and Great Yorkshire Shows. His daughter Pinina Miranda was dam to the delightful palomino LR/FR pony Pinina Madoc who has been a prolific winner and champion in lead rein and first ridden classes qualifying for all major championships including: PUK, BSPS, Premier Series, RIHS And HOYS and has been described as `one of the top M&M LR & FR ponies on the circuit`. His sisters and brothers (e.g. Ringstead Charming Lass and Ringstead Candi) have also produced some fantastic winners and champions such as the Royal Welsh winning LR/FR pony Tallares Sandpiper. 

Taraco Stud, Canterbury, Kent

A small stud specialising in breeding quality palomino and buckskin welsh ponies and cobs